EThomas

My ‘31 Chrysler CM6 gets about 15 mpg in the flat farmlands of nowhere, next to nothing, east Central Illinois.

Thank you. I feel lucky to be the current caretaker.

Man! She is a real beauty. I love that color! Congrats on such a nice car.

I should post more photos. It typically doesn't occur to me. That said, I grabbed a quick shot in the parking lot this morning. Fair warning, I am no photographer! I'll have to look into the WPC Club. I think they're in Chicagoland, which can be a bit of a haul from nowhere, close to nothing, rural Illinois.

Well. It looks like Spring is trying to arrive and drive-in movie nights and long country drives exploring the rural back roads are on the horizon. Since getting her back in December, I’ve put almost 700 miles on her. Most were trouble free, to be honest. I had an issue with the fuel sending unit, which seems resolved by a good cleaning. So, I now know how much gas I have - which is important! One of the rivets on the parking band brake let go, which was a frustrating noise to chase down and solve. I’ve had to tighten the packing on the water pump once. The last thing remaining is a slight intermittent belt squeak. I guess after 30 years, she needs a new one. That will be this weekend. I wanted to give an update because I noticed something today as I was letting her warm up before I left work while chatting with a good friend. The more she’s driven, the better she is. I know. I know. I read that months ago on this forum. Use your car! I’m surprised at how true it is. It really is shocking how easy she starts on the 6 volt system. How nicely she runs on the mechanical fuel pump. How comfortable the bias ply tires are. No, she’s never gonna be a speed demon. Keep her well within her limits and she’s a joy. Easy. Predictable. Stable. If you look at my history, you know it was a long and expensive road to get here. That said, it’s well worth it. The more she sees the world - even a trip over to the next town for ice cream on a Thursday night - the happier she is. I encourage everyone to drive your car. What you read is true! The more you drive is the more problems you solve which is the more you learn and equals the better they run (kinda like an old school word problem!). Plus, as an added bonus, you make friends. Kids are fascinated. Adults want to chat. You can’t stop anywhere without someone striking up a conversation. In today’s world, an old car brings so much joy to so many people by just getting out on a warm afternoon. This is just my two cents. Take it for what it’s worth. I’ve noticed the more I’m out and about, going here and there, the better she runs and drives.

My ‘31 CM6 is about 15 or so, depending on speed and traffic.

I've used Instrument Services out of Machesney Park, IL.

PM sent.

I’m sorry for the delay. They used Benchwick Carburetor in Youngstown, Ohio.

Thank you. I was hoping there was something like the handles I’ve seen on some Packards or Pierce-Arrows. I’ll grease the doors and see if that makes a difference. Outside of that, I’ll just have to be mindful.

I wasn’t exactly sure how to describe my question in the title. I’ve noticed the Chrysler doesn’t have the same little ‘lip’ (for lack of a better term) on the top of the door sill to help close the door as the Model A does. I hate using the inside door handle opener. It feels like I’m stressing it. Also, it’s not the best to roll down the window and either pull on the top of the door or the middle part of the door. I’m not the most nimble fella (God gave me a healthy dose of clumsy, so I’m concerned I’m gonna pinch my fingers or charlie horse myself!) Is there an accessory out there that mimics what the Model A has? Is there a technique I’m missing. How do you close the door without pulling on the inside handle? Where’s the strap?!? lol

To echo the Mercedes-Benz recommendation, I have a '95 E320 (w124). It's built like a tank and has never failed me. It's a quiet, comfortable cruiser that gets good gas mileage for what it is. The size is just right, as it's easily maneuverable and the turning radius is quite small. The great thing is that parts are easy to find and the running costs are quite reasonable. I would recommend a six cylinder car, as the V8's (outside of the 500E/E500) can have issues with cooling. The engine bay is just a tish too small. There's a reason Porsche essentially reworked the entire front to put a V8 in. The only issues I've experienced are due to incompetent work by the dealership. That would be the one caution I would give about any older Mercedes-Benz, if you chose my path of always using a dealer for service. Make sure the dealer is familiar with the older cars and actually has someone on staff with hands on experience. The W124 is the last in line of the old Mercedes-Benz philosophy of building a car that will last a lifetime. If you treat it well, it will treat you well.

Sweet catch!

First thing I notice is the block at the front wheel. That says there's a brake issue. To fully rebuild the braking system, that's a few thousand at minimum. I would be concerned about damage done to the frame, battery tray and shields due to hydraulic fluid leaking. I would be curious as to how well it runs. You could run into issues with the fuel pump and the carb. Neither are inexpensive to rebuild. Another is the water pump. If it has any form of large crack, it's not going to be rebuildable. They are extremely rare and expensive to find and rebuild. If all the gauges are there, restoring them isn't too expensive. Finding them if they're not is going to be a nightmare. You can get a new wiring harness, so that's easy if everything else is there. Overall, most parts aren't too difficult to find with patience. You're looking at ALOT of work. I would be skeptical of any price over a few thousand dollars. I'm hoping this isn't one of those "I know what I got" issues. Good luck. If you need any more insight into '31 Chryslers, I just wrapped up a mechanical restoration on a CM6 sedan. Feel free to ping me.

It's been an adventure. The focus now is making memories with family and friends. We've got a laundry list of things we want to do and Alice seems to be the perfect companion for them. All things said, I'd do it all over again - just with my eyes wide open the next time! LOL